Pencil-sharpener



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

W. K. FOSTER, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

PENCIL-SHARPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,262, dated May 18, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER K. FOSTER, of Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Sharpeners or Devices for Sharpening or Pointing Pencils or Crayons; and I do hereby declarev that the same are fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l, is a side view of a pencil sharpener containing my invention, it being taken so as to exhibit a broadside representation of the handle. Fig. 2, a side view of it showing the handle in edge view and the chip throat. Fig. 3, is a view of it exhibiting the opposite side of it or the light port. Fig. 4:, is a vertical and central section taken so as to show the knife or cutter. Fig. 5, is a vertical and central section taken in the opposite direction. Fig. 6, is a transverse section of it, all the figures being made on a scale double that of the usual size of t-he article.

This pencil Sharpener is intended to be constructed by casting or founding the body of it in a mold and on the knife or cutter placed and held in the mold.

In the drawings, A, denotes the body of the sharpener as formed with a handle, B, and containing a knife or cutter, C, a conical or tapering chamber, a, and a chip throat, (l, the same being arranged together in a manner as shown in the drawings.

The upper end of the cutting edge of the knife terminates in a space or chamber, or has a chamber or space, o, formed beyond and against it in the body or upper part of the body A. Furthermore, the said space or chamber is placed between the handle and the blade or cutter, and so that no shavings or particles of the lead while a pencil is being sharpened or pointed can pass int-o the handle or on the same so as to dirty or soil a persons fingers having hold of the handle. Should the chamber, e, open into the handle or the passage, f, through the same, particles of lead removed from a pencil during the process of pointing it would pass into the space, f, and soil the fingers of the operator. The space, o, and the knife are to be so arranged as to form the pencil or lead thereof with a cylindrical termination to the conical or tapering end, that is, as shown in Fig. 7, wherein, f, denotes the cylindrical termination and g, the tapering end. In this drawing A, denotes the lead, while B, is the wood of the pencil. The objectof so forming the lead with a cylindrical instead of a conical point or end is to enable it subsequently to be reduced to a line point by rubbing iton paper, sand paper, or a tine file, as artists often prefer to have a pencil so left by the pencil sharpener. Furthermore, that side of the chamber, e, which is opposite to the knife edge, or in other words, the side marked, h, in Fig. 2, is so arranged with respect to the conical chamber, a, as not to touch the lead of the pencil while the same is being sharpened. This prevents any particles of lead from marring or injuring the point or lead. The body A, is also formed with a light port or opening, z', arranged in the opposite side of it to that in which the chip throat is made, such being not only to aid in freeing the chamber, a, of particles of lead and wood, but to enable a person to look through the body and see the lead of the pencil while it is being sharpened or reduced.

I claiml. Making the pencil Sharpener with a space, e, (or its equivalent) so arranged beyond the inner end of the blade C, as to cause -the pencil lead to be turned or reduced cylindrically while passing beyond the inner or upper end of the knife.

2. I also claim the arrangement of the space, o, with reference to the handle, that is, so as to be separated therefrom, or not open into the space or opening, f, thereof, the same being for the purpose as set forth.

3. I also claim making the body, A, of the pencil Sharpener with a light port or opening, z', arranged opposite to the chip throat, and for the purpose described.

4. I also claim arranging the auxiliary chamber, e, or its side, la., with respect to the conical chamber, a, so that while the lead is being cut by the knife, the lead may not touch the side of the auxiliary chamber or be so near it as to be ground or injured,by particles of lead which may adhere to the sides of the auxiliary chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

WALTER K. FOSTER. Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. R. HALE, Jr. 

